UN Advisory Board Chair Emine Erdogan Calls for Global Shift in Consumption Habits to Combat Climate Crisis
Emine Erdogan, the Turkish First Lady and Chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste, has urged a fundamental change in global consumption habits and stronger international cooperation to address the escalating climate crisis. Speaking at the opening of New York Climate Week, Erdogan highlighted that humanity has created a system characterized by short product lifespans and increasing waste, with an estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced since the 1950s, of which 7 billion tonnes have become waste. She emphasized that the environmental costs of high consumption disproportionately affect vulnerable societies and future generations. Erdogan advocated for the Zero Waste movement as a moral approach that promotes limits and responsibility, transforming individuals from passive observers into active participants in climate action. She noted that small behavioral changes, when widely adopted and supported by sound policies, can evolve into broader societal practices. The initiative launche...
